Chinese expert calls for sustainable lifestyle in urbanization process

A Chinese expert called here on Tuesday for the incorporation of a sustainable lifestyle into the current urbanization process across the world.

Dr. Patrick Ho Chi-Ping, deputy chairman and secretary general of the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC), made the appeal at the high-level panel discussion and luncheon on Sustainable Urbanization in China, jointly organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and CEFC at the UN headquarters.

"As economies around the world develop and mature, world's urban population is projected to increase from 3.5 billion to 6.2 billion by 2050 with an overall urbanization rate of 65 percent, when more and more people flock to cities for employments and better quality of life," Ho told the panel discussion.

"But urbanization is not about cities, is not about buildings, but about people, building people," he said.

Ho, who was Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs from 2002 to 2007, noted that urbanization is a process -- "a transforming process and a humanization process of turning rural residents into citizens."

"And sustainable urbanization is the very process of transforming people into citizens with a sustainable lifestyle," he stated.

For urbanization to be successful in the long run, he said, citizens' lifestyle has to be sustainable, adding "the principle of sustainability should be incorporated into our daily lives and manifested by our every deed and action."

"It should not be just a slogan, a policy, or a campaign," he said. "It should be our way of life."

CEFC is a non-governmental, non-profit civil organization. It also serves as a high-end strategic think tank engaged in energy strategy research, energy and public diplomacy, as well as global energy cooperation and cultural exchanges. Registered in Hong Kong, the Committee is an NGO of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).